The Puffer Forum

Hello all , update:

Attempt 1: placed fahaka in a pail and added the Transmore drop by drop. Fish turned belly up and gill movements almost stopped totally . Took him out for about 5 secs and there was no struggle. So we transferred him to a basin, I had my helper hold him with a large net and I proceeded to pull the lips open . Just as I was trying to get the wire cutter to the right position , fahaka moved and gasped mouthfuls of air and started to squirm. I moved him into a pail of tank water immediatedly and burped the air out by stroking the belly . I decided not to re-do the process. He was placed into his tank and I added a powerful air source to the tank. He came to after a while and swam about normally and started begging for food again. So the procedure was a failure.

Attempt 2: this morning, I did a precise measurement of the water and anesthetic needed and added the full dose in a relatively short time . he was knocked out much more quickly this time. I waited a while for the drug to take effect . He went into a deeper sleep this time. I have also prepared a smaller wire cutter beforehand . This time round it is a success . Total time taken was approximately 3minutes. He is now happily swimming and just took an apple snail and a crayfish .

Thank you all for your help, it wouldn't have been possible if not for you guys !

well done.

Congrats

Did you get it on video? LOL!!

Would have loved to but there wasn't another person around to do it, plus I was quite nervous over the procedure itself so I don't think I have the extra energy to fiddle with a camera ! I hope there will not be a next time but if there is I shall take video haha

meh .. that is ok. you did well. The first time is always the worst time. Now you know and you can teach others.

I remember my first SAP trimming .. gawd was I scared. Eventually it got to be a procedure that I could do in half a minute or less. That is the nature of this hobby. Do, learn, teach.

This is your puffer's life in your hands--ALWAYS dose according to directions! How would you like it if your anesthesiologist just fooled around with the tranq to get you to sleep like that before surgery???

I'm glad the 2nd time was a success & nothing worse happened the 1st time.

This should NEVER be necessary on a fish like this again. Feed crunchy foods.

the only reason why i added slowly was from research and feedback that some owners overdosed their fishes despite following the recommended dosage. (other factors may be at play , though)

to be on the safe side, i was recommended to add Transmore bit by bit instead of full dose. There was indeed a lot of reservation when it comes to that for me.

The error i made , or rather, the part where i had no experience of, was determining what it means for the fish to be fully numbed. This experience helped.

Let's hope you never have to do this again!

yes i hope i dont have to do this for any fish.

Got the Fahaka at this size at a forgotten corner of a fish farm. He was fed bloodworms and goldfishes all his life and thus he looked like a chipmunk.

I've done it about a dozen times. I've charged for it too.